Unbeatens Freedom, Winneconne finish at top of football rankings

FINAL REGULAR-SEASON RANKINGS

1, Freedom (9-0)

Irish crush Sheboygan Falls 62-7 in regular-season finale and get No. 1 seed in Division 4 playoffs. Axzil Eggert scored on touchdown runs of 8, 15 and 50 yards to lead Freedom in the win over the Falcons.

Previous ranking: 1.

Next: D4 playoff opener, Oct. 23 vs. Black River Falls.

2, Winneconne (9-0)

Wolves need overtime to get past a 3-6 New London team 20-19 in their regular-season finale. Henry Chase with 262 yards passing and three touchdowns, with Drew Lenz his favorite receiver (9 catches, 137 yards, two touchdowns).

Previous ranking: 2.

Next: D3 playoff opener, Oct. 23 vs. McFarland.

3, Little Chute (8-1)

Mustangs win third consecutive game with 54-14 victory at Waupaca. Team has outscored its opponents by an average score of 51-7 the past three weeks. Little Chute earned No. 1 seed in upcoming D4 playoffs.

Previous ranking: 3.

Next: D4 playoff opener, Oct. 23 vs. Denmark.

4, Kaukauna (7-2)

Ghosts hold Appleton East to 33 yards of total offense in 28-7 Week 9 victory as team earns share of Fox Valley Association title with Neenah. Kaukauna also gets No. 2 seed in D2 playoffs.

Previous ranking: 4.

Next: D2 playoff opener, Oct. 23 vs. Oshkosh North.

5, Neenah (6-3)

Rockets hold off Kimberly 35-31 in Week 9 regular-season finale to get share of FVA title with Kaukauna. Rockets are No. 4 seed in D1 playoffs.

Previous ranking: 5.

Next: D1 playoff opener, Oct. 23 vs. De Pere.

6, Fox Valley Lutheran (7-2)

Foxes get big 41-6 win over Xavier in annual Apple Bowl game. Braden Heiges had 125 yards passing and a score and also ran for 138 yards and a touchdown. Team earns No. 3 seed in D3 playoffs.

Previous ranking: 6.

Next: D3 playoff opener, Oct. 23 vs. Rhinelander.

7, St. Mary Catholic (7-2)

Zephyrs earn share of Eastern Wisconsin Conference title with 31-6 victory over Brillion in regular-season finale. Dominic Todd had 93 yards rushing on 22 carries and two touchdowns. Team earns No. 2 seed in D6 playoffs.

Previous ranking: Not ranked.

Next: D6 playoff opener, Oct. 23 vs. Fall Creek.

8, Shiocton (8-1)

Chiefs' defense holds Manawa to 169 yards of total offense in 31-6 victory. Shiocton earns No. 2 seed in D7 playoffs.

Previous ranking: 8.

Next: D7 playoff opener, Oct. 23 vs. Osseo-Fairchild.

9, Menasha (7-2)

Bluejays crush Green Bay East 61-6 in regular-season finale. Team earns No. 4 seed in D2 playoffs.

Previous ranking: 9.

Next: D2 playoff opener, Oct. 23 vs. Menomonee Falls (at Banta Bowl).

10, Brillion (7-2)

Lions drop several spots in rankings after 31-6 loss at St. Mary Catholic that snapped six-game winning streak. Brillion gets No. 3 seed in D5 playoffs.

Previous ranking: 7.

Next: D5 playoff opener, Oct. 23 vs. Tomahawk.

Others: Appleton North (5-4), Xavier (5-4), Weyauwega-Fremont (5-4), Hilbert (6-3), Kimberly (4-5), Chilton (5-4), Seymour (5-4), Wrightstown (4-5).

WEEK 9 PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Ryan Carrel, Kaukauna

Carrel had 187 yards passing with two touchdowns and also ran for 68 yards and another score in the Ghosts' 28-7 victory at Appleton East. The win helped Kaukauna earn a share of the Fox Valley Association title.

Henry Chase, Winneconne

Chase, a sophomore quarterback, threw for 262 yards and three touchdowns in the Wolves' 20-19 victory over New London in overtime.

Braden Heiges, Fox Valley Lutheran

Heiges had 125 yards passing and a score and also ran for 138 yards and a touchdown.

Jaden Hermsen, Little Chute

Hermsen had 109 yards passing and two touchdowns and added 64 yards rushing and another score in the Mustangs' 54-14 victory over Waupaca.

Drew Lenz, Winneconne

Lenz, a sophomore receiver, had nine catches for 137 yards and two touchdowns in the Wolves' 20-19 victory over New London.

Dominic Todd, St. Mary Catholic

Dominic Todd had 93 yards rushing on 22 carries and two touchdowns in the Zephyrs' 31-6 victory over Brillion. The win helped SMC earn a share of the Eastern Wisconsin Conference title.

Bryce Urban, Kaukauna

Urban had 10 tackles, including four for loss, with 3.5 sacks in the Ghosts' 28-7 victory at Appleton East. The win helped Kaukauna earn a share of the FVA title.

Ashton VanBeek, Neenah football

VanBeek ran for 215 yards and three touchdowns and also threw for 183 yards with two scores in the Rockets' 35-31 victory over Kimberly to secure a share of the Fox Valley Association title.

LIVESTREAM OF THE WEEK

WIAA Division 1 playoff opener: Oct. 23, De Pere at Neenah, 6:45 p.m., postcrescent.com and greenbaypressgazette.com.

This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Unbeatens Freedom, Winneconne finish at top of football rankings